Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Austin, TX 78759

Austin: median income $102,400, home value $674,000, $332/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Raleigh, NC 27612 92%1,163$95,988$529,000$261 cheaper homes ($145K less)
Middleton, WI 53562 92%988$101,381$532,200$270 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Charlotte, NC 28210 91%1,033$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Boulder, CO 80301 91%788$95,207$793,200$376 pricier homes ($119K more) · smaller
Englewood, CO 80112 90%752$108,874$659,200$282 newer homes
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 89%1,325$100,697$613,600$349 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Atlanta, GA 30328 89%818$112,111$561,900$236 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Charlotte, NC 28211 88%1,037$132,917$774,900$360 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($101K more)
Atlanta, GA 30342 88%818$124,111$829,400$318 pricier homes ($155K more)
Towson, MD 21204 87%1,346$99,606$594,800$261 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Raleigh, NC 27609 87%1,166$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($203K less)
Charlotte, NC 28209 87%1,034$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Charlottesville, VA 22901 86%1,215$92,145$501,700$272 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Atlanta, GA 30305 86%817$106,907$737,500$391 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Franklin, TN 37067 86%740$111,759$756,300$313 pricier homes ($82K more) · newer homes
Broomfield, CO 80021 85%775$110,038$568,000$292 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Portland, OR 97225 85%1,704$114,598$751,700$319 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30319 84%820$130,648$762,500$301 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($89K more)
Tampa, FL 33611 84%935$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($194K less)
Birmingham, AL 35243 84%678$99,645$538,400$233 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller
Ann Arbor, MI 48105 84%1,131$94,774$503,100$264 cheaper homes ($171K less) · younger residents
Fort Collins, CO 80525 84%811$91,636$588,400$265 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 84%856$97,177$698,200$400 older residents · more homeowners
Exton, PA 19341 83%1,409$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($165K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 83%1,424$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($245K less)

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.